Declan Rice has been urged to become a West Ham icon and snub any chance of moving on to a bigger club.
And the advice comes from a man who did the same at his major club Nottingham Forest – Irons first-team coach Stuart Pearce
‘Psycho’ proved how to become a legend in the game by captaining Nottingham Forest for 11 years and winning 78 caps for England.
Two League Cups and an old Division One trophy were among his haul of silverware — but to some of us he will always always be remembered as the fourth of the England lions.
Pearce, 58, believes in following your heart and not always your head to get the best out of your time as a player.
He said: “Put it this way, I’m probably testament to that. I played my football where I enjoyed playing football and turned money down to stay where I was happy.
“My biggest driver was probably playing for the national team. I get the same impression now with Dec — he is intensely proud of representing England.
“He’ll make his own decisions but we are lucky at West Ham to have a current captain called Mark Noble who has been here for a number of years and has shown great loyalty to the club.
If I was Dec I wouldn’t be wanting to go to Chelsea anyway, the club that nearly ending his career by saying he wasn’t good enough and discarding him at the age of 14. It was West Ham and the academy of football that showed faith in him and showed him the way. I’m sure Dec must appreciate that. Like Bobby Moore he’ll be the captain of West Ham and England if he stays with us. An icon. A legend to the same fans that have backed him since day one.
So good. Absolutely listen to Stuart. And Kevin. And David. These are the men to tell you how to improve and enjoy your football. And follow Michail as an example of on-field attitude. Forget the rubbish from England coaching – head in hands, a shake of the head and showing your spirit by getting booked for nothing is not the way to go. Get on with it and kepp awake. Always know where you are and what you’re doing on the pitch.
Life is great.
COYI
Declan is a special and very rare breed of player. He’s a mature well-rounded young man grounded by his family and family values which shows in the honest way that he goes about his work on the pitch.
It is fair and obvious to say that Declan IS the player that he has become because of rejection by Chelsea which then fired his desire and development at the perfect place for his abilities….West Ham.
He probably knows this fact too and I’m sure that Stuart Pearce, Nolan and people close to him would’ve made him aware of that fact.
It’s one thing joining a successful established side and another joining a vanity project, meaning that it can turn into shifting sands when the manager who signed you is dismissed and another manager takes his place. Stability doesn’t exist at a club like Chelski.
Wanting to play with your mates isn’t always the best career move either. Who knows, Frank is probably having fun attempting to take the beating heart away from West Ham.